St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-20
THE JAIL LOCATION.

Judging from the earnestneSS with
which some persons are discussing the
various propositions for the location of
the new county jail, one is led to Sus
pect that there might possibly be real
estate deal involved in the selection OF a
site. One diSputant contends that the
Jail must be located in close proximity
to the new court house, while another is
equally clear in his belief that it must
go to some suburban or interurban
locality. A consensus of public opinion
shows fairly equal division of Senti-
ment concerning the matter, and the
arguments on the respective sides APP
pear to be equally balanced. If prece-
dent counts for anything in this
dispute, then the proposition to
build the Jail in the close neighbOrhoOd
of the court house has the advantage.
From time immemOrial it has been the
custom to do so. 1t also may be stated
with fairness that this custom grew into
existence because OF the convenience of
having the two buildings in close prOX-
unity. Ordinarily the county finds it
economy to use one piece of ground for
dill lllG GUILTY. dedAAis
the jailor is ordinarily the janitOr OF all
the county buildings, and it suits his
convenience to have them within easy
reach of each other. These conditions
apply to country towns which have
been selected for the county seat,
and if st. Paul were village
there would be no dispute
over the matter. But it so happens that
st. Paul has grown into great big city,
and the arguments which would have
applied with conclusive force ten or
twenty years ago are not so logical now.
A Jail is not the most desirable building
in the world to have in the heart of
either the business or residence portion
of a city. So far as the deSirability of
location is concerned, there can be 10
question but that some out-Of-the-way
place would be preferable. But then
comes in the question of convenience
and of having the public buildings
so located as to expedite the
public business. Can this be done
with the jail mile or two
miles away from the court house? The
Jail in Washington city, which is the
model institution of the kind in this
country. is located many miles distant
from the court house. Prisoners are
carried to and from the court house in
close van, which is guarded, when
necessary. by detachment of mounted
police. One can readily imagine, how
ever, the trouble that might arise from
having the jail too far away from the
court house during trial which excited
so much popular interest as the trial of
the Chicago anarchists. 1t is hardly
possible that the Chicago incident will
ever find repetition in Ramsey county;
still it is important to weigh all these
considerations in determining the Ques-
ton of a proper site for the new Jail.
1t is not SO much question of lOca-
s. ton that should bother the minds of the
authorities who have the construction
of the jail in charge, as it ShOnld be one
of what kind of a Jail building we are
to have. Practically it makes but little
difference whether the Jail is located
near to or remote from the court house.
But it is important that, wherever it
may be located, the building shall be a
p slightly one. Nor should all the pains
and money be expended in making the
exterior ornamental. We should cut away
from the traditional idea that a Jail
must of necessity be the precinct of
gloom and foul air. There is no reason
why light and fresh air should be ex-
cluded from prison building, while
every instinct of humanity reasons in
favor of admitting an abundance of
both. 1t is in this respect that the
= Washington city Jail of which we have
spoken is model. While there is moth
ing suggestive of elegance or luxury in
its appointments or furnishings, still the
Washington Jail presents as bright and
cheerful and neat an appearance as the
ordinary counting room or business
Office. Without regard to where it may
be located, we insist that the new Jail
when built shall be credit to Ramsey
county.